Automobile-lock



UNTE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT C. HEMPEL AND FLETCHER D. BOS'WELL, Ol .PHIILADELPHIAH PENNSYL- VANIA.

AUTOMOBILELOCK.

Application led February 1'?, 1919.

To all who-m it may concern.'

Be it known that we, ALBERT C. HEMPEL and FLETCHER O. BoswELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful mprovements in Automobile Locks, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in automobile locks, and has for its object to so construct the clamping member of such a lock as to insure its being rigidly held in place upon the steering post casing and prevent rattling thereon.

A further object of our invention is to provide a bushing through which the lock bolt passes for engagement with the steering post and so construct such bushing Vthat it will house and strengthen the lock bolt, and,

A further object of our invention is to so construct a lock bolt that a portion thereof will pass through the bushing while a rectangular portion thereof will enter into engagement with a slot formed in said bushing to prevent disengagement of the lock from the clamping member.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may under stand how to make and use the same, we will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals, to the accompanying drawing forming a part of our application, in which- Figure 1, is a plan view of the device shown in the proper relative position to an automobile steering gear post casing, said post casing being in section and a portion of the lock member being sectioned away to clearly show the joint between said lock member and the clamping member.

Fig. 2, is a horizontal section of the clamping member showing the bolt bushing in elevation.

Fig. 3, is a face view of a clamping member showing the arrangement for holding the bushing against rotation.

Fig. 1, is a horizontal section of the bushing.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 4, 1921.

serial No. 277,657.

F ig. 5, is a plan view of the lock bolt.

Fig. 6, is an end view thereof, and,

Fig. '7, is a horizontal section of one element of the clamping member.

1n carrying out our invention as here em bodied, 1 represents the lock member which may ybe of any suitable construction such as a combination lock with the casing of which is formed the head 2 having the face thereof recessed and threaded as indicated at 3. The bolt 4 of this lock has a rectangular shank 5 adapted to slide back and forth in a corresponding opening in the head, and from this shank extends the bolt proper 6.

'7' represents the clamping member which is composed of two elements or sections 8 and 9 pivoted together at 107 and adapted to close around the steering post casing 11 as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the prongs 12 projecting from the inner face of said sections passing through said casing and into close proximity to the steering post 13. A semicircular boss 14 is formed upon the section 8 and a corresponding boss 15 upon the section 9 so that when the clamping member is in its proper position around the casing these bosses form a complete circle for the reception of the threaded recess. 3 of the lock member, so that when said lock member is threaded upon these bosses the clamping member is securely held around the casing.

16 represents the bushing which is adapted to pass through a suitable opening in the clamping members, the head 17 thereof litting in the recess 18 in the bosses and prevented from turning therein by the pins 19, so set in the bosses as to project into the side walls of the head 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of this bushing eX- tends into close proximity to the steering post 13 and has a circular opening 2() for the passage of the bolt G. This bushing also has a transverse slot '21 formed in the head thereof for the reception of the outer end of the rectangular shank 5, so that when the bolt is in its locked position this shank will prevent the unscrewing of the lock member from the clamping member.

By extending the bushing into close proximity to the steering post as before stated the bolt 6 will be housed and strengthened thus protecting it against bending under all strains to which it is likely to be subjected since the bolt passes immediately from the housing into the recess 22 thereby avoiding the leverage which would otherwise be eX- erted upon said bolt.

The screw 23 is threaded through the rear portion of the element of the clamping member and the point thereof is intended to pass into a depression or spot in lthe casing 1l so as to hold the device against slight lost motion, which might permit vibration, and -for the proper placing of this set screw a cutaway portion 2li is formed in the back of the element 9 as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

Where the clamping member is made of aluminum or other soit metal, in practice we have found that the bushing when made of a harder metal such as steel, Jhosphor bronze l or the like7 a great advantage is gained, since theV device will then be strengthened at the points where the greatest strains occur.

Or" course we do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits oi" the appended claims, without departing from the spirit ot our invention.

Having thus Afully described our invention what we claim as new and useful is 1. In an automobile steering gear lock, a clamping member consisting oi' two sections so pivoted as to embrace the post casing, a lock member adapted to be attached to the clamping member in such manner as to hold the sections of the latter in their closed position7 a bushing set in the clamping member, means for holding said bushing against rotation, a bolt having a rectangular shank said shank adapted to pass into engagement in a slot formed in the bushing when said bolt passes into engagement with the steering post.

2. In the clamping member of an automobile steering gear lock, a bushing itted in said clamping member, two pins so set in the clamping member as to proj ect partly in the bushing to prevent rotation of the latter; said bushing having a passage ior a loclr bolt and a crosswise slot for the reception of the shank of` said bolt, and means for taking up the lost motion of the clamping member.

3.111 an automobile steering gear lock a clamping; member composed of two sections adapted to surround and be secured to the casing of a steering gear post, a bushing set in said sections so as to project into close proximity to the steering gear post, said bushing having a passage for a locking boltand a crosswise slot for the reception of the shanlr ot' said bolt and means for preventing the rotation of the bushing.

el. In a device oi the character stated, a clamping member consisting of two sections so pivoted as to embrace the casing of a steering post and having a cutaway portion in the pivoting element of one ofthe sections, a screw passing through said section at the cutaway portion and covered by the pivoting element of the other section when the clamp is in place and a lock carried by the clamp Jr'or locking 'the steering post as shown.

ln testimony whereof, we have hereunto aiiixed our signatures.

ALBERT C. HEMPEL. FLETCHER 0. BOSVVELL. 

